A true relation of the true Proceedings of both Armies, with the manner of the Battaile which begun on Sunday last.
HIs Majesty having received intelligence that Windsor Castle was fortefied by the Parliaments forces, to oppose the Cavaliers and other ill affected persons which are about his Majesty, for which cause his Majesty altered his intended course and retreated from his Quarters backe toward Warwicke, but in his retreate backe it was his [...] [Page 2] to meet with the forces raysed by the great Councell of the Kingdome, for the defence of the true reformed Reformed Protestant Religion, his Majesties sacred person, the priviledges and rights of Parliament, the Lawes of the Kingdome, with the Liberty and propriety of the Subject, all which is in great danger of being involved under the slavery of an arbitrary power plotted and contrived by a party of popish recusants, ambitious and prelaticall Cl [...]argy, Lordly projectors, and deboyst Cavaliers, with other trayterous Delinquents, who for the advancement of their owne destructive stratagems, have at once attempted to destroy both King and people, as will appeare by this ensuing relation.
The Armies being met (notwithstanding that it was Sunday) they began a bloudy conflict, it being about one of the Clocke in the afternoone when the two Armies met, in a plain [Page 3] Champaine Field, between Banbury and Brackly, in the County of Oxford, and being come within the reach of one another, they began to charge each other with their Field pieces, doing great Execution, thus they continued fighting for the space of 5. houres, during which time the two Armies drew towards each other with a softly march, till they came within Musket shot, then Bloud and slaughter triumphed in revenge, and Death was toyl'd with killing, for this bloudy conflict continued till Munday Morning, the victory enclining to neither party, in the Morning the Beacons were fired whereupon the Country rost and joyned with the Lord Brookes, who was upon march from Warwicke to aid his Excellence, being arrived he found his Excellencies army ingaged between the Kings two divisions, for Prince Robert (who as yet had not joyned with his Majesty) fell upon the Reare of our [Page 4] Army, where he found reasonable opsition, but when the Lord Brooks began to draw nigh, Prince Robert wheeled his men about and fronted the Lord Brookes betwixt whom grew a bloudy battaile for the space of one houre, but Prince Robert finding himselfe to weake retreated back and joyned with the retreating, Body of the King, during which time both parties fetched off their dead, there they beheld a Field which erst was clothed in the livery of the Spring, translated to a terene Golgotha, buried with mangled carkases of those which Warre had ravisht of their naturall being.
These dismall lights did not dismay him tho, for with a resolute courage he joyned his forces with the ma [...]ne Ba [...]talia, and in couragious manner began another battell with them, in the first onset they behaved themselves so valiantly that the Kings army lost their order, from whence grew such a combustion, [Page 5] that our forces obtained a great victory over them, as shall be declared in the insuing relation.
The Kings army having lost their order, our Forces pressed upon them very furiously and cut them off without the least mercy, rooting the whole Army and forcing them to retreat, to secure themselves from our furious charges.
In which conflict there was slaine neere 3000. or more, onely there was taken by our forces these men of quality, namely the Earle of Lunf [...], and Colonell Vavasor his Sonne, the Lord Digby, Colonell Lunsf [...]rd, and Colonell Stradlin, with divers others.
Also wee tooke his Majesties Standard, and as it as credibly reported his Excellencie tooke it with His owne hand, and with his Sword wonne it from the Standard bearer.
Likewise wee tooke ten Pieeces of Ordnance from the Cavaliers, and J [Page 6] know not how many Colours, the bearers whereof divers were slaine, and others taken Prisoners, wee doubt not but by Gods blessing to give a period to these troubles, and to appease the Cavaliers, and to free his Majesty from all those that daily conspire His ruine and destruction.
This is but an entrance or a beginning of what must follow, without GOD of his abundant mercy curbe them in their full cariere, and give a period to those bloody Broyles, which that He may speedily performe, let us all with one heart and one voyce, lift up our hearts and prayers to God, which hath hitherto miraculously preserved us from dangers past and present, and to desire a Blessing upon our future endeavours, which we doubt not to obtaine, since it is His quarrell and His cause which wee have Covenanted to maintaine to the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes.